In' and 'within' to refer to stated periods of time

In and, more formally, within, sometimes mean 'before the end of a stated period of time, which may be present, past or future:

/ always eat my breakfast in ten minutes

I finished the examination in (within) an hour and a half When we refer to the future in phrases like in ten days (or in ten days time), we mean 'at the end of a period starting from now'; -s apostrophe or apostrophe -s + time is optional [compare > 2.49]:

The material will be ready in ten days/in ten days' time However, when we mean 'within a period of time, not starting from now', we cannot use -s apostrophe + time. Compare:

Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes

(That's how long it will take him to do it.)

Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes' time

(That's when he'll start running.)

Particular uses of prepositions and particles

Particular prepositions, particles and contrasts

Many prepositions/particles have special uses. For details [> App 25].

Pairs of prepositions and particles

Prepositions and particles can be repeated for extra emphasis: We went round and round (the town) looking for the hotel

Particular uses of prepositions/particles

Some prepositions function as contrasting pairs: Please don't keep running up and down (the stairs)

Or the second word adds something to the meaning of the first: Martha was ill for a long time, but she's up and about now

Prepositional phrases

A large number of fixed prepositional phrases are in common use: e.g. by right in debt, on time, out of breath, etc. Some of these phrases have metaphorical or idiomatic uses which extend their time/place associations: e.g. above average beneath contempt beyond belief. Many phrases follow the pattern preposition + noun + preposition: e.g. in danger of, on account of[> Apps 20.3, 26].

Combinations of particles and prepositions

Prepositions often follow particles, e.g. across/along/back/down/off 'on + to for, etc. [also > 8.30.2]:

I'm just off for a swim I'm going down to the beach Prepositions sometimes combine directly with each other, as in:

That's the boy from over the road

Come out from under there will you?

8.19 Adjectives + prepositions

Many adjectives used predicatively [> 6.7, 6.8.4] are followed by particular prepositions: absent from, certain of, etc.

Simon s often absent from school because of illness Sometimes a single adjective can be followed by different prepositions: e.g. embarrassed about embarrassed at, embarrassed by [> App 27].

8.20 Nouns + prepositions

Nouns usually take the same prepositions as the adjectives or verbs they relate to [> Apps 27-29].